Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wines: Saratoga Wine or English Sack
Karen My maternal grandmother, Helen S. Wright, included a recipe for Saratoga wine also known as English sack, in her book Old Time Recipes for Home Made Wine published in 1909.…
Plant Profile: Abelia uniflora (aka Linnaea uniflora)
Native to thickets and forests of eastern China at elevations between 656-6562 feet, this broadleaf evergreen to deciduous shrub is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes…
Book Review: Groundcover Revolution
In her book Groundcover Revolution, author Kathy Jentz explores the option of replacing the traditional grass lawn with sustainable, eco-friendly alternatives. She begins by pointing out the problems with grass…
Genus Genistas for the Garden
Genista is a genus of more than 144 species of shrubs and small trees in the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. They are native…
Plant Profile: Australian Blackwood ( Acacia melanoxylon)
Also known as hickory, mudgerabah, and Tasmanian blackwood, this evergreen tree is native to southeastern Australia including Tasmania, and is a member of the legume family, Fabaceae, that also includes…
Plants of Ancient Pompeii: Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)
Carob tree, also called St. John’s-bread and locust bean, is an evergreen tree and member of the pea family (Fabaceae) that also includes beans, lupines, and mimosa . It is…
Plant Profile: Indian Abelia (Abelia triflora aka Zabelia triflora aka Linnaea triflora)
Also called Himalayan abelia, this evergreen to deciduous shrub is a member of the honeysuckle family, Caprifoliaceae, that also includes weigela, pincushion flower and teasel. It is native to eastern…
Book Review: Gus and Button
Gus and his dog Button live in a beige monochromatic town made entirely of mushrooms where life seems very dull and boring. When something bright green drops into the town…
Book Review: Bees
Karen Meyers Bees,by Joyce Markovics, presents basic information about bees suitable for children in grades 3-4. It covers topics from life cycle, pollination, and honey production, to communication in the hive, threats…
Weeds and Their Control: Russian Knapweed (Rhaponticum repens)
Russian knapweed is a woody , rhizomatous perennial and member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes sunflower, yarrow, and lettuce. It is native to Eurasia but was introduced…